I wish my backyard looked jungletastic like that! Good work. I suppose I could plant a bazillion palm trees because they aren't burned to death in the Bakersfield summer or killed by the usual several days of below freezing days in January.
_________________Hey folks, check out my Telstar Lounge blog: http://TelstarLounge.blogspot.com It's mid-century, occasional tiki, and often quite humorous.

I actually haven't had a luau in the yard yet, but we think we'll be having one for our neighbors and friends next Spring.. what's funny is that when I moved into the neighborhood I was told that a woman up the street was from Tahiti- she had alot of tropicals in her yard, so I got to talking to her- turns out she is Kern's mom and her sister owns the Mai Kai- AND she was a dancer at the Mai Kai for many years (I have an old vintage MaiKai postcard with her in it) ..how's that for coincidence? We've now become good friends and trade plants all the time.. she still makes the MaiKai costumes by hand.

Anyway, she knows some folks who do the whole pigroast thing for luaus, they come you your place and dig the hole, wrap the food in banana leaves, the whole deal. So I'm thinking of doing that- it will be a great christening of the jungle.

Below is a picture of what I started with back in late 2002. The 2004 and 2005 hurricanes set things back quite a ways, so I probably could have gotten it to this state a year or two sooner had they not whacked everything back.

Re: Monstera- that is the quintessntial modernist/tiki/jungle plant for sure

I used to try and grow it indoors in Arizona, but I kept killing it- probably due to too much dryness. Now I know it a bit better. It actually likes a good deal of moisture in the soil. I wouldnt let it dry out. I've actually seen cuttings of it root in a vase of water and continue to put out new leaves.

Its know as a shade plant, but it can take a good deal of sunlight, and will get bigger faster that way. I just wouldn't put it out in all day direct sunlight if you like in a hot climate. If you can place it near a water feature like a pool or a pond, that is ideal as they love humidity.

When it comes to sun, in cooler climates, try putting it out in alot of sun or bright shade, and keeping it very moist. You will want to slowly acclimate it to the new conditions by moving it out gradually, but once its out in the sun or bright light, keep an eye on it- if the leaves get very bleached out and yellowy, thats too much sun- but if they stay pretty green, leave it there and watch it get big.

They like to climg things, so a totem or a tree to grow up is good- it also promotes the biggest leaves that way- and the big ones are the ones with the big holes which look cool.

I was trying to grow one inside in a shadier area and it was just growing soooo slow. I brought it outside, put it under a banana for some part day shade and let it get rained on all the time- its in a bullet planter with no drain holes, so i know it must be sitting in sog. Once I did that it started really busting a move.

Nice to see you back.
Been taking any "other" photos lately, if you know what I mean, and I think you do?

When I get back home I'll throwdown with you on the tiki landscaping. I put in a Koi pond this year under the massive stand of Buddha Belly Bamboo and next to the tree fern. Our garden is kicking this year from all the recent rains. Night Blooming Jasmine. Birds of Paradise and Heleconia planted from seeds I got in Hawai'i.

...sigh... I miss it.

Anyway, your place looks great, fatuhiva. I know how hard it is to keep a sculpted look with tropicals in Florida.
I still want to trade a few things with you. I've got a few fairly rare gingers and some very healthy other tropicals including some very rare bromilliads I could split off in the fall.

(See folks, THAT is how you get an invite to a space coast pig roast.)

Very nice Fatuhiva! How big is that yard? Looks huge. After a record cold earlier in the season we lost several plumeria, bannanas, small king palms, hibiscus and this traveler palm. When I went out yesterday morning it had new growth at the base!

Plumeria also coming back,

Every leaf on this tree turned black and fell off leaving a 15' tall stick. I have learned not to dig everything out as it may come back.

We had these Heleiconia in pots for years and they are finally blooming after a year in the ground.

Here is a pic of the view from our lanai if the blinds are rolled up.
Someday they will finish (2010 I suspect). I mean finish the remodel. The back yard is done. Finally they asked their tenant that lived in the shed to leave. Nice guy. Peed a lot just in front of the camper, but nice.

Ron, good to hear from you! And to SEE what little paradise you have carved out for yourself, again! Some people just have a hand for that (or a green thumb). That's how my yard SHOULD look, but being out of the country regularly has made it futile for me to try. And when I am here I am so busy with all this other stuff. AND.....(excuses excuses)

Brian and Ron's yards are the perfect proof why Polynesia Americana did so well in Florida and California. Just ad a little water, and -POOF- you have your tropical jungle!

But then again, that is why tropical hideaways in other, non-tropical climate blessed states are just as ingenious: Fake palm trees and plastic foliage increase the level of artifice that is the essence of Polynesian pop.

Wow!! I see all these fantastic yards and I run outside to see ....my jungle beds overrun with grass and weeds!!! Damn!! I'll go clean them out and take some pics. Wish me luck...it's a red ozone day today with highs expected to be over 100!!!

here's some partial views of my lair
stream
nightview
last but not least...me after a night at Fashion Island Newport Beach.....shiste, I mean Forbidden Island Alameda. No really not me, just my brother Nick.